Why renaming matters

Chief minister Yogi Adityanath is restoring cultural identity and civilisational heritage by reinstating the original names of places in Uttar Pradesh

A nation that forgets its identity not only loses its sense of pride but also its direction for the future. It is often said that a tree cut off from its roots can never provide shade. The same holds true for civilizations, whose identities are reflected in their names. The names of rivers, cities, towns, streets, and neighbourhoods are not merely markers of location; they are living symbols of faith and cultural continuity.

Following repeated invasions of India, foreign rulers sought to alter the country’s identity by changing the names of places. As part of this process, numerous locations across Uttar Pradesh were renamed. For decades, this sacred land silently endured what many regard as cultural erasure. However, since Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath assumed office, that silence has begun to break. In an effort to remove symbols associated with the period of foreign rule, his government has taken several significant decisions to restore the historical names and cultural identity of many places.

Most recently, the state government has renamed Jalalabad tehsil in Shahjahanpur district as Parshuram Puri, Khiloni-Suchitaganj Nagar Panchayat in Ayodhya district as Maa Jwala Ji, Fazilnagar in Kushinagar as Pavagarh, and Bhadarsa as Bharat Nagar. These decisions reflect the Chief Minister’s broader priority of restoring cultural heritage.

A closer look at history reveals several dark chapters, including the large-scale renaming of cities, towns, and villages in Uttar Pradesh during the Mughal era. Districts such as Ghazipur, Azamgarh, Aligarh, Moradabad, Allahabad, Fatehpur, Firozabad, Shahjahanpur, and Muzaffarnagar were named after Mughal rulers, military commanders, or their relatives. Agra was renamed Akbarabad, while Prayagraj became Allahabad. According to this perspective, these changes represented a deliberate effort at cultural displacement that imposed the identity of foreign rulers upon India’s ancient civilizational landscape. The Yogi government argues that restoring the original names is not merely a correction of history but also a response to what it views as a historical injustice endured across generations.

The renaming of Allahabad as Prayagraj remains the most symbolic example of this process. The city, where the sacred confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the invisible Saraswati takes place and where millions of devotees gather every twelve years for the Kumbh Mela, had long carried a name that, according to supporters of the change, bore little connection to its spiritual heritage. By restoring the name Prayagraj, the government believes it has revived the city’s ancient identity. Similarly, renaming Faizabad district as Ayodhya is seen as restoring the historic dignity of the birthplace of Lord Ram. Likewise, renaming Mughalsarai Railway Station after Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya honored a prominent thinker while giving the station a new identity.

The recent decision to rename Jalalabad tehsil in Shahjahanpur district as Parshuram Puri was based on specific reasons. Ancient texts describe the region as the birthplace of Lord Parshuram, and local residents had demanded this restoration for many years. Similarly, renaming Khiloni-Suchitaganj in Ayodhya as Maa Jwala Ji and Bhadarsa as Bharat Nagar is presented as a recognition of public aspirations and local religious sentiments.

Gorakhpur, which is closely associated with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, also witnessed similar changes during his tenure as Member of Parliament. Urdu Bazaar was renamed Hindi Bazaar, Humayunpur became Hanuman Nagar, Miyan Bazaar was changed to Maya Bazaar, and Alinagar was renamed Arya Nagar. These changes are intended to reconnect local identities with their cultural roots.

Supporters argue that many followers of Sanatan traditions themselves seek freedom from names they associate with the legacy of foreign rule, and demands for such changes have continued over the years. Suggestions such as Kalki Nagar or Prithviraj Nagar for Sambhal district aim to honor the future incarnation of Lord Vishnu and the memory of the warrior king Prithviraj Chauhan. Similarly, local representatives have proposed renaming Deoband as Devvrindpur. The argument is that when communities wish to identify their towns with names rooted in mythology, history, or faith, it becomes the responsibility of a democratic government to respond to those sentiments, a role the Yogi government believes it has fulfilled.

Critics often ask what practical difference changing a name makes in the daily lives of ordinary people. Supporters counter that this argument overlooks the importance of cultural memory. They believe that connecting younger generations emotionally with India’s ancient and glorious past requires that cities and towns bear names associated with the country’s traditions, deities, and great historical figures. They also point out that renaming places is not a new practice. Bombay became Mumbai, Calcutta became Kolkata, and Madras became Chennai as part of similar efforts to restore indigenous identities. From this perspective, Uttar Pradesh’s effort to restore the original and culturally significant names of its towns and cities is a welcome step.

The issue extends beyond renaming alone. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s campaign to revive cultural pride also includes the grand Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, and the restoration of numerous ancient pilgrimage sites across the state. Together, these initiatives reflect an effort to present Uttar Pradesh to the world in harmony with its spiritual heritage and historical traditions.

William Shakespeare famously wrote, ‘What’s in a name?’ Yet many believe that a name carries profound significance. A distorted name shapes a distorted memory, while an authentic name preserves an authentic one. In this view, Uttar Pradesh will be known not only for its pace of development but also for its efforts to restore its cultural memory. Consequently, restoring the historical names of cities and towns is seen not merely as an administrative exercise but as a civilization reconnecting with its own enduring heritage and dignity.

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